Rochester Area Fisherman league

Announcing “Rochester Area Fisherman,” (RAF) a fishing league for all people interested in fishing the Rochester area waters.

The intent of RAF is to have a league format for fishermen. There is no entry fee, no charges at all. You will need to furnish your own boat, fishing equipment, and bait. We will have winners each outing based on the length of one fish of the selected species that we target. A point system will keep track of fishermen’s totals for all outings with an award for the person with the top point total at the end of the series.

The initial dates and locations are:

Saturday April 22nd at Lake Zumbro. Leave from the DNR public ramp near Ponderosa Campground at 8:00 a.m.; be back to the ramp no later than 12:30 p.m. Fish will be measured and judged in the parking area.

Saturday May 6th at Chester Woods. Leave from the public ramp at 8:00 a.m.; be back to the ramp no later than 12:30 p.m. Fish will be measured and judged in the parking area.

Thursday night May 25th at Lake Zumbro. Leave from the DNR public ramp near Ponderosa Campground at 5:00 p.m.; be back to the ramp no later than 8:30 p.m. Fish will be measured and judged in the parking area.

Thursday night June 8th at Chester Woods. Leave from the public ramp at 5:00 p.m.; be back to the ramp no later than 8:30 p.m. Fish will be measured and judged in the parking area.

Thursday night June 22nd at Lake Zumbro. Leave from the DNR public ramp near Ponderosa Campground at 5:00 p.m.; be back to the ramp no later than 8:30 p.m. Fish will be measured and judged in the parking area.

Thursday night July 6th at Lake Zumbro. Leave from the public ramp at 5:00 p.m.; be back to the ramp no later than 8:30 p.m. Fish will be measured and judged in the parking area.

All fishermen will compete on an individual basis; there are no teams. In the first 3 events of this first series, the fish that will be targeted will be sunfish/bluegills, crappies, and catfish. The last 3 events in this first series will include sunfish/bluegills, crappies, catfish, and bass. The length of a fish will be used to determine the placement. Points will be awarded as follows: 1st place – 5 points, 2nd place – 3 points, 3rd place – 1 point. Any ties will combine places and divide by number of people tied – for example, 2 people tie for first place both having 9 inch bluegills – add 1st (5 points) and 2nd (3 points), total of 8 points divided by 2, each person gets 4 points. The top 3 places in each targeted species will count and you can enter fish in each of the species. The winner in each weekly contest will receive “bragging rights” until the next meeting. Point totals will be accumulated for each person and the person with the most points at the end of the series will be declared the series champion, and will receive an award.

RAF, sponsors, staff, or members are not responsible for any accidents, any loss, or injury. All public boating and fishing laws must be followed. Anyone not observing public laws, contest rules, or found cheating will be disqualified. All decisions will be made by RAF staff and will be final.

Contact Dan Theim [email protected] or Mike Smith [email protected] with any questions.

Sounds like a great idea. I’m gonna have to ask the spouse for the final ok. One suggestion I have is to expand the bass species in the last three events to include smallies due to Zumbros smallie population. Maybe it could be combined to make it largemouth/smallmouth bass or simply bass.

Once again great ideas guys.

Just a reminder that our first event will be this Saturday April 22nd at Lake Zumbro. Leave from the DNR public ramp near Ponderosa Campground at 8:00 a.m.; be back to the ramp no later than 12:30 p.m. Fish will be measured and judged in the parking area.
Dan Theim will be the host for this event. He has a maroon & white 14 ft. Northwood boat with a 25 HP Johnson tiller motor. You need to register with Dan to be included in the contest. If you get there late and want to register, you can do that after fishing.
***Remember – you need to be back to the parking area before 12:30 in order to register any fish. There will be no fish registered late, so allow yourself extra time.

HOF opens at 5:00 Saturday morning if you need any bait or tackle on your way to the lake. I will be at the store if you have any questions. Results will be posted here.
Good luck to everyone! Hope you all have fun!

Good Fishing,
Mike

The top 3 places in each targeted species will count and you can enter fish in each of the species.

I assume this means a person can enter up to 3 fish [one each of the 3 different fish spieces] or does it mean you are only allowed to enter one fish period? Thought I better verify this before I answer someones question.
Thanks, Bill

You can enter 1 fish in each of the targeted species – so up to 3 fish in this first event. 1 catfish, 1 crappie, 1 sunfish/bluegill.

Good Fishing,
Mike

You guys have fun without me. The kid and I are hitting the woods for turkey time. His first hunt for the bearded beast.

Looks like I’ll be at work sat. am. Might be able to switch something around, I’ll look Dan up if I make it. If not I’ll be at the next one, Good Fishin DOUG

Fished the first event today and met Dan at the landing around 7:40. Think we had about 6 or 7 total. I think the weather may have kept some away as well as the turkey season. Hopefully we can build on the turnout at our next event at Chesterwoods. As to how I did see my Lake Zumbro 4-22-2006 thread.

Thanks again Mike and Dan for putting this together.

We have a winner from the first event. Congratulations to Andy Wilhorn with 8 points, largest crappie at 11 inches and 2nd place bluegill at 8 1/4 inches. Second place goes to Alex Thorn with 5 points for the largest bluegill at 8 1/2 inches. Third place goes to Dan Theim with 4 points, 2nd largest crappie at 10 3/4 inches and 3rd largest bluegill at 8 inches.
Thanks to everyone who came out on a slightly cool day!

Good Fishing,
Mike

This was the winning crappie.

Congrats guys. Nice crappie Andy.
Thanks, Bill

The second event is May 6th at Chester Woods – just 8 more days. Make your plans to attend.

Good Fishing,
Mike

Hello everyone, long time listener first time caller. LOL But really I have been lurking for quite sometime now and I figured what the heck, I might as well sign up and toss my hat in the ring.

My first post on IDA! Hmmmmm, what’s it gonna be? I know, I’ll jump into the RAF thread. This is a really good idea! What better way to meet new people and to compare new ideas? So far so good. Last event wasn’t very many people but I believe this Saturday might be a better turn out. Does anyone else plan on attending?

I put the bug in my wifes ear this weekend, so I tentatively put the wheels in motion. Haven’t heard much about what has been going on out there so it should be interesting. Hopefully we get a good turnout. I need to get my canoe registered so I can take that out there instead. I think it would suit be better than my boat and its underpowered MinnKota.

Andy

P.S. Remember you will need either a season or day pass to get into Chesterwoods.

SBR, do they still have an envelope box at the entrance?

I haven’t been out there yet this year, but in years past they have. I’m planning to head out there before Saturday so I will give you an update. I think last year I filled out the paper work put that and the money in the box and in a few days got my year pass.

I was there just looking around a couple of weeks ago and saw the box was still there.
Chester should present a good challenge for everyone. The fish tend to relate to submerged wood, but there is acres of the stuff! Deepest water that I know of is up near the dam, I think there is a 40 ft. area.
I’m looking forward to fishing this Saturday. Hope to see many of you there!

Good Fishing,
Mike

I’m planning to prefish Thursday morning as I’m taking the morning off. I will try and give an update as to what I find. I tend to fish Chesterwoods more in the summer evenings after Zumbro becomes a skiers zoo.

Andy

Mike, are you taking your boat out there reason I’m asking is I plan on fishing this outing and I’m wondering if my boat would work out there? or do people just take canoes or something smaller? I’ve got the 17′ bass tracker–Thanks, Greg

Greg,

You will have no problem with that rig. I’ve seen plenty of big boats on Chesterwoods. Just remember that its electric trolling motor only. Hope to see you out there.

Andy

Yes I will be in my boat. Make sure your trolling motor battery is fully charged!

Good Fishing,
Mike

Just a reminder for this Saturday May 6th at Chester Woods. Leave from the public ramp at 8:00 a.m.; be back to the ramp no later than 12:30 p.m. Fish will be measured and judged in the parking area.

It sounds like we may have a good turnout. Should be a chance to meet several of the people that are on the forums. Hope to see you all there!

Good Fishing,
Mike

See ya there.
Thanks, Bill

Just back from the second RAF tourney. We fished Chester Woods with some good results.

Bluegill 1st place: Ron Weltzin – 9 1/4″

Bluegill 2nd place: Andy Wilhorn and Mike Smith – tie at 8 1/2″

Crappie 1st place: Mike Smith – 11 3/4″

Crappie 2nd place: Andy Wilhorn and Ron Weltzin – tie at 11″

No catfish were caught.

Point winners this event: Ron Weltzin and Mike Smith tied for 1st with 7 points. Andy Wilhorn 3rd place with 4 points.

Overall point totals after 2 events:

Andy Wilhorn: 12 points

Ron Weltzin: 7 points

Mike Smith: 7 points

Alex Thorn: 5 points

Dan Theim: 4 points

Thanks to everyone who came out today.

Good Fishing,

Mike

Nice work there buster! Thank you for keeping the stats on the R.A.F.!!

What a fun time today. My first trip out there in a boat. I know what have I been waiting for right? A guy could spend all weekend out there fishing all that structure.

But my buddy and I did have some fun and had a chance to meet some more great fishermen. There was a boat out there contaning three mysterious characters though .

The best bet was to stay on the edge of deeper water and close to the weeds and wood.

Here is a couple quick shots from today.

Points leader SBR Andy

Weigh in.

Also Eric and I had a visitor. She had no idea we were so close. Pretty cool!

It looks like you guy’s had a great time!! I just got started this a.m. later then I thought and missed the start time at chester so I headed to pepin instead. Pepin was a bust as far as walleyes but we had some fun with the sheephead on light gear. Great day to be on the water. Thanks for the report on chester Dan. Next time—-Greg

Looks like Bill should have worn his waders!!!

Hey Jake, where have you been hiding? You need to get back this area Bud for some fishin. Miss your reports. Too much wind coming in to the ramp and you can use a gas motor to drive up on the trailer so I went for a walk to guide my boat up unto the trailer. I will post some pics to follow this post.
Thanks, Bill

Mike Smith measuring fish.